Yokohama extending biodiversity programme in 2012

Yokohama Rubber has reported on its environment-related activities at several of the company’s Japanese plants. The various actions Yokohama is undertaking or plans to initiate focus on preserving the biodiversity in each plant’s surrounding area; the company commenced its biodiversity programme at the Mie car and truck tyre factory in the 2011 financial year and extended it to the Shinshiro and Mishima car and light truck tyre plants in the first half of this year. Programmes will get underway at the Ibaraki and Nagano rubber products plants in the second half of 2012.

The basis for Yokohama’s preservation programme can be found in its Guidelines on Biodiversity document, which the company formulated in July 2010. Giving an example of what’s involved in biodiversity preservation, Yokohama says activities at the Mie facility include tree planting around local rivers to preserve water resources upstream of the plant, which draws river water for use in its cooling facilities and then discharges back into the river. Local bird populations are also monitored and water quality evaluated. Testing is now been undertaken by volunteers from the Yokohama plant.